Amphiphilic Peptide P15-encapsulated paclitaxel and analysis of its in vitro antitumor activity

Amphiphilic polypeptide P15 (YIGSRHHHLLLGFLG) was designed and synthesized for the encapsulation of paclitaxel to prepare targeted nano-microspheres (P15-PTX). The self-assembly behavior and drug-loading effect of P15-PTX in aqueous solution were investigated. The micelle-forming ability and in vitro antitumor activity of P15-PTX were also studied. The results showed that the mixing of P15 and PTX at an optimal ratio of 6:1 resulted in the formation of microspheres with regular rounded morphology, small particle size, high drug-loading rate, good drug release effect, high cell inhibition rate, enhanced antitumor activity, and a certain dose–response relationship with the P15-PTX concentration. At a P15-PTX concentration of 400 μg/mL, the proliferation inhibition rate of MCF-7 cells was 70%. The microsphere designed and prepared in this study is expected to provide a targeted drug delivery system with good application prospects for the treatment of tumor cells.